1853-62.] CAKFATIC: EIGHT DISTRICTS. 



203 



unless there is the inducement of soon realizing a re- 

 munerative price, the Ryot will choose any other kind 

 of cultivation in preference." Mr. McDonnell also 

 drew attention to the report on the Cotton cultivation 

 in Trichinopoly, drawn up by Mr. Travers, the Col- 

 lector, in 1812. The following extract, relative to the 

 mode of cultivation, is worthy of record. " The ground 

 is first ploughed up. Afterwards a herd of cattle, or a 

 flock of sheep, is kept on the land for two or three days 

 to manure it. The ground is then again ploughed 

 three times more ; and the seed, which has been dipped 

 in a preparation made of buffaloes' dung, salt water, 

 and ashes, is then sown, and the ground again lightly 

 turned up to cover the seed. When the plant has 

 reached the height of one span, the earth is carefully 

 and very lightly ploughed up between the plants, and 

 the grass that has grown is removed. After this, as 

 occasion may require, the weeds and grass are continued 

 to be rooted up until the plants have reached maturity, 

 when the Cotton is plucked." 



(6) Tanjore : Soil not favourable without irriga- 303 

 tion, and with irrigation the cultivation of rice is 

 preferred. — The quantity of -Cotton grown Mr. Cadeii's 

 in this district falls far short of even the letter, 5th 

 requirements of local consumption, and ac- Dec '' 1861, 

 cordingly large quantities are brought from the south- 

 ern districts of Madura and Tinnevelly Mr Cadell > s 

 to meet the deficiency. Repeated attempts letter, 3ist 

 have been made to improve the quality of Jan -' 1862 - 

 the Cotton grown, and to extend its cultivation, but 

 they have hitherto proved unsuccessful ; Paras.m, 

 and the land under Cotton crop is at the 256 - 

 present time less than six hundred acres, being less 

 than one-fourth of what it was ten years ago. Mr. 

 Cadell, the Collector, ascribes these results to the un- 

 remunerative nature of the crop, the uncertainty of the 

 produce, and the labour and expense of preparation 

 arising from the absence of any cheap and efficient 

 machinery. He is also inclined to think that the soil of 

 the district is not very favourable to the plants, unless 

 it can be irrigated ; and when the means of artificial 



